Evolution

Premiering at Munich Oktoberfest in 1992, constructed by Nauta Bussink & Bailey of Holland, Evolution remains one of the largest rides ever to be transported. Weighing a massive 300+ tonnes, 33 metres (113ft) high and wheel diameter of 15 metres (45ft), it earned a Guinness World Record for the largest inverting carousel structure ever built.

Evolution (also known as Imperator) consists of a giant arm bearing a rotating wheel holding 16 four-person gondolas on one end, and a set of 10-tonne counterweights at the other. With riders facing outwards, Evolution’s movement involves the freely suspended gondolas move upwards and outwards as the wheel turns. With this happening, the arm slowly turns 180° exposing the riders to strong g-forces before both movements usually stop, suspending the riders in an upright, inward facing position 33 metres off the ground. After a few minutes, rotation of the wheel and arm recommences to complete one 360° circuit before the ride cycle finishes.

Only 3 units were ever made by Bussink & Bailey

USA, Excalibur at Six Flags St Louis (ex-portable from Europe)

Germany, Imperator, travelling German fairs again after being in storage for some years

Japan, ex-Kure Portopialand (park version) currently in storage after the park closed in 2005

More common is Fabbri’s Evolution, manufactured under license by Bussink’s design. At 21 metres (68ft) it’s considerably smaller, portable on two trailers and accommodates 40 riders in 10 cars. Unlike Bussink’s design, the gondolas are not suspended freely with 360° mounts but are controlled by pneumatic cylinders at the operator’s discretion.

There are at least 3 Fabbri units in USA and 6 in Europe, both portable and park design.

Nauta Bussink Technical Information

Number of cars

16

Number of passengers per car

4 adults

Ride Speed

1 RPM Arm 10 RPM Wheel

Maximum ride height

34.5 metres 113 ft)

Ride width

20 m / 66 ft

Ride depth

24 m / 79 ft

Ride weight (EMPTY)

43,000 lbs (300,000kg)

Transport

16 trailers

Fabbri Technical Information

Number of cars

10

Number of passengers per car

4 adults

Ride Speed

3 RPM Arm 10 RPM Wheel

Maximum ride height

20 metres 70 ft)

Ride width

20 m / 66 ft

Ride depth

24 m / 79 ft

Ride weight (EMPTY)

14,000 lbs (21,000kg)

Transport

3 trailers

26 Responses to “Evolution”

Uuuhuuuuuuuuuuuu, I love this ride very much, after it`s “antecessor cousin” Enterprise. Playcenter in São Paulo and Mirabilandia in Reci
fe/Pernambuco have one too. And I dream of having
one too, called “Air Supply”!!!! hahaha fui!

Helloooooooooo, I WANT IMPERATOR IN BRAZIIIIL!!!(PREFERENCE TO WHERE I LIVE, IM PIQUETE/SP)FIXED FOREVER!!!
“I can wait forever
If you say you`ll be there too
I can wait forever if you will
I know it worth at all
To spend my life alone
With you…”

scary!!!!!!!!! because it keeps you up in the air for about 1 minute at the start but once that is over your of and away loving it pooing it hands up amazing irl love to have one in my back garden i dont have to wish because i already have one in my back garden because im rich!!!!

Cman, you are confusing the Evolution with maXair, which is a Huss Giant Frisbee (awesome ride, btw).

I rode the one at Six Flags St. Louis (Excalibur) this year and it was quite an interesting ride. It spun a little faster than I liked but the ride experience was great. Like the fact that you didn’t go upside down though I think I would have liked the arm to do two revolutions.

i just want to know if i can ride this cuz im 11 years old and i want to know if 11 year olds can ride this and btw there is going to b 1 at the oc fair which im going there plz someone comment me back to let me know if 11 year olds can ride this and also 10 year olds! PLZ!!!

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I WAS RIDING THE EVOLUTION WITH MY KID SISTER AT THE CLARK COUNTY FAIR IN VANCOUVER WASHINGTON, AND ONE OF THE PINS FELL OUT OF THE SIGN AND HIT THE DECK. WAY TO GO BUTLER AMUSEMENT. THATS ANOTHER GOOD ONE. BUTLER HAS BEEN HAVING LOTTS OF BAD THINGS GO WRONG. WHAT THE HELL IS GOUNG ON?????